Game apparatus.



PATENTED AUG.'25. 1903.

J? CLARK. GAME APPARATUS. APY LIOATIOH FILED JAN. 3, 1903.

\\\\\\\Lm k UNITED STATES Patented August 25, 1903.

JONATHAN E. CLARK, on DENVER, coLoRADo.

GAME APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent NO. 736,938, dated August 25, 1903.

Application filed January 3, 1903- Serial No. 137,746. (No model.)

T0 on whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JONATHAN E. CLARK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Denver, in the county of Arapahoe and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Game Apparatus; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to makeand use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in a game apparatus of the type wherein baseblocks having traps are located at convenient points, a cue being employed to strike a cueball against a second ball to force the latter into a predetermined trap. It is Well known in the art that games of this character have been before used, but through lack of proper construction they have, so'far as I am aware, proven themselves commercial failures. In such games known to me the base-blocks have been made of regular form-circular, for instance-and have a hole in their centers of such dimension that a ball or other article directed thereto impinges the top of the table and will invariably rebound and leave the opening again. The disadvantage of a regular curved incline is that a ball rolled thereon toward the center opening is more than likely to be deflected around the opening and onto the table. Moreover, the ball once in such an opening its momentum tends to move the base from its position. Then, again, it is an exceedinglydifficult task to direct a ball to an opening where the incline leading thereto is curved and of regular slope, so much so that the game loses its value as such, resulting in its use being limited.

In carrying out my invention I propose to eliminate these decided disadvantages by such details of construction as will enable one playing the game to become quite proficient in delivering a ball to a designated trap, and yet not make the delivery thereto so easy as to mar the interest in the game. I propose employing a neat and convenient band and accessories therefor to provide a railing around an ordinary table orthe like, whereby the game maybe played on any suit able surface, dispensing with a fancy or eX- pensive board now commonly used for this purpose.

With these as prime objects of my invention I will now proceed to describe the structural details which enable me to accomplish the desired ends.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a perspective view of an ordinary table with my improved game apparatus applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of a base in which is formed a ball-trap.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the same on 4 comprises a vertical member 6, having a slot 7, two horizontal members 8 and 9, the lower one of which has a threaded opening 10 to receive a set-screw 11.

To apply the band, a support 4 is located at each corner of the table. The horizontal members 8 and 9 straddle the tabletop, and the set-screws 11 fasten them in position. The band 3 may either be passed through the slots 7 before or after the supports are fixed in position. This arrangement affords an economical guard-rail and one which through constant use becomes stretched, and it may be readily tightened by a buckle 12. Furthermore, as the screws for affixing the supports are below the table-top liability of scratching or disfiguring the polished surface above is absolutely avoided.

The base-blocks having the traps therein form the leading characteristic of my invention, six being shown, and all being of the thick, and its upper surface gradually inclines from the center down to the knife-edges 15, 16, and 17. The meeting ends of the edges 15, 16, and 17 are rounded, as at 20, and the upper planes leading therefrom toward the trap are inclined but they are horizontally rounded off, as at 21, to within a short distance of the trap, approximately to the points 22. The rounded planes 21 form, with the planes leading from the edges 15, 16, and 17, a series of planes of varying areas, the radii of one set being considerably larger than the other set. The surface 22 between the points marked 22 and the trap is uniform, so that a ball hovering around the trap is liable to roll down either of the inclines leading toward the edges 15, 16, and 17.

The trap comprises an opening 18, a flange 25, surrounding the upper edge of the same, and a guard 26, surrounding and adjacent the flange. It is highly important that the relative proportion of the trap, its guard, and the ball 27, designed to be seated therein, be

- such that a ball when in a trap will be wholly supported by the edges of the flange 25 and that the bottom of the ball be unsupported. This proportion is of the utmost importance and its advantage will be more particularly referred to hereinafter.

To play the game, the rail-guard is first set up, as before described, and a block is placed in each corner and at intermediate points on two sides, and to add interest to the game the blocks are numbered from 1 to 6, the numbered blocks being scattered. The balls 27 are positioned as indicated in Fig. 1, one ball being provided for each block, and a cue-ball 28 and one 29 are used to drive the said balls 27 to the various traps. The player positions the cue-ball and endeavors to scatter the balls 27, and if perchance the player should in scattering the balls knock one in the trap of either of the blocks marked 1 or 2 he is given due credit-five or ten,or more, as may be determined upon. The next player now endeavors to drive a ball into the trap marked 1, and as he must do so through the medium of the cue-ball obviously his task will be variedthat is to say, supposing the cue-ball to have been positioned, as indicated in dotted lines in. Fig. 1, by the first player and the ball 27 nearest the trap marked No. 1 is at the point marked 29 it is necessary then that the cue-ball strike the ball ,27 sidewise in order to drive it up the incline surface of the block to the trap, and so at of a block as described is that the horizontally-rounded corners, in addition to forming additional planes, tend to prevent the ball fol- ]owin gthe gradualincline and constant rolling off'onto the table, as in the case of a symmetrically-constructed block. For instance, assume a ball 27 to be positioned opposite the block indicated by the number 2 and the cue-ball were directed toward it, obviously if the proper impact were given the ball 27 would roll up the inclined planes of the block, and by means of its being elongated naturally its tendency will be to roll up toward its apex, whence it will either fall into the trap or, following the regular incline 22 between the points 22 and the trap, will roll down one of the opposite inclined planes. Although the latter action will be rare, nevertheless the invention contemplates this move to add interest to the game.

If the whole upper surface of the block were symmetrically and regularly inclined", a moments thought will suffice to convince one that a ball knocked thereto will under the natural law of gravity gravitate to the lower end of said block. Then, again, I have described the edgesof the block as being slightly curved. This permits of the ready and gradual lifting of a ball up the incline should it be delivered thereto with a maximum force, which would not be the case were the edges straight and regular. Furthermore, the shaping of the blocks as described serves to make it easier at some points to direct aball into a trap than at others. For instance, if a ball is positioned squarely in front of one of the inclined planes the player has a comparatively easy thing of it to drive the ball into the trap. Not so, however, were the ball located near or at one of the corners 20. To drive a ball from its position into the trap would require the most expert handling of the one and cue-ball; but it is possible and adds unusual interest to the game. Then the approximate triangular shape of the blocks ren-- der each block capable of use at either point of the table. Should a ball roll between an incline plane and the guard 3, the latter will almostinvariably, being somewhat elastic, impart sufficient movement to the ball to cause it to roll back and up the incline into the trap.

So far as the particular shape of the block is concerned, I desire it to be understoodthat I contemplate the use of other than the shapes illustrated in the drawings, for so long as I maintain the plurality of inclined planes, divided, figuratively it is true, by thehorizontal intersecting or smaller planes, I believe I am within the scope of my invention.

The purpose of constructing the trap as described is, first and foremost, to catch the ball in such manner that its momentum incident to its being driven will not cause it to rebound and roll out onto the table, and, secondly, prevent the ball when caught moving the block from its position by contacting with the surface of the table. A ball delivered to the trap, as indicated in Fig. 3, when it first falls over the guard 26 falls on the edge of the IIO flange 25 and gradually seats itself therein, its momentum being retarded by reason of the fact that the flange 25 catches the ball at a point in its periphery Where it can hold it, and in addition to this the guard 26 prevents the ball rolling out of the flange. The ball once in the trap is sure to remain therein, inasmuch as the flange receives it and the guard holds it.

Reference has been before made to the fact that the bottom of the periphery of the ball when in a trap does not touch either the surface or the table. Were the two to contact, obviously when the ball was forced into its seat it would roll on the table and carry with it the block. Hence I not only provide a positive means for seating the ball, but positively prevent the block being displaced.

One other advantage the relative proportions of the trap and the ball have is that once the ball falls into the trap the guard 26 contacts with it above the ball center. This, coupled with the fact that the bottom periphery does not contact with the table, positively insures said ball being retained.

The advantages of my invention are numerous. I may emphasize the fact that a game having the characteristics of pool or the like may be played without the necessity of providing a specially-constructed table. Furthermore, the simplicity of the parts forming the game, coupled with the manner in which they may be assembled, renders the game particularly useful for domestic purposes.

WVhat I claim as new is- 1. A game apparatus comprising a table or other support, pyramidal blocks having two sets of outwardlycurved sharp edges, the radii of one set of curved edges being considerably larger than the other, a plane ex tending upwardly from each curved edge, an object-receiving trap in each block at its top, and an object adapted to be driven into the trap, substantially as described.

' 2. A game apparatus comprising a table or the like, of pyramidal blocks having a plane, a trap formed at the apex of the plane, said trap consisting of an opening having a surrounding flange and a guard adjacent to and surroundingthe flange for retarding the n10- mentum of a ball driven on the flange, a ball adapted to be driven into the trap, the ball being of such diameter that the edges of the surrounding flange contacts with and supports said ball above its bottom,substantially as described. I

8. A game apparatus comprising a table or the like, of pyramidal blocks having a series of planes of different areas, an obj ect-receiving trap, in each block, said trap comprising an opening surrounded by a flange and an adjacent guard surrounding the flange, and an object adapted to be driven up a selected plane and into a trap, the guard being of such height that it retards the momentum of the object when the latteris driven into the flange, substantially as described.

4; A pyramidal block for a game apparatus of the character described, comprising a series of planes of varying areas on the upper side which gradually merge together to form a cone at the upper end, and an object-receiving trap in the block adjacent the cone, substantially as described.

5. A pyramidal block for a game apparatus of the character described, comprising one or a series of planes, an object-receiving trap at the apex of the planes, a ball, the trap being formed to support a ball above the bottom of its periphery and being of such height as to leave a space between the bottom of the trap and the bottom of the ball, and a guard adjacent to and surrounding the trap for retarding the momentum of the ball delivered to the trap, substantially as described.

6. A. game apparatus comprising a table or the like, a guard detachably secured to the table, approximately triangular-shaped pyramidal blocks on the table, each block having one or a series of planes, an object-receiving trap at the apex of the planes, and an object adapted to be driven into the trap, a block being positioned in each corner and others located along the edge of the table, said blocks being spaced from the guard whereby an object striking the guard opposite a block, may rebound and travel up the adjacent plane into the trap, substantially as described.

7. The combination with a pyramidal block having one or more planes, an object-receiving trap in the apex of the block which con- I00 sists of an opening having a surrounding flange to support a ball, and a guide adjacent said flange, and a ball of such proportions relative to the trap and the guide that the ball center is below the top of the guide and the bottom periphery of the ball is unsupported, substantially as described.

8. As a new article of manufacture, a pyramidal block for a game apparatus having a trap at its apex, said trap consisting of an an- 1 1c nular flange to support an object, and a guard adjacent to and surrounding the flange for retarding the momentum of an object driven on the flange, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature :1 in presence of two witnesses.

JONATHAN E. CLARK.

W'itnesses:

J NO. MINIE, DENIZA MATTHEWS. 

